LAST week’s ITM Barrier Trials winner Midnight Empress topped Friday’s Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale when selling for 45,000gns guineas to Joseph Bell. The Mehmas filly was trained by Diego Dias when she recorded the second fastest six-furlong time among the two-year-old contests held last Wednesday at Leopardstown.

Kevin Coleman retained his barrier trial winner Ocean Phoenix (filly by Ulysses) at 170,000gns.

AMERICAN Belle, a Starspangledbanner half-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Ombudsman, will be offered in the upcoming Tattersalls Online September Sale on September 15th-16th. Aged six, American Belle won twice when trained by James Fanshawe and is being offered in foal to Lead Artist. She has a foal by Modern Games and a yearling by Massaat.

BREEDERS interested in inspecting some of the best stallions in Normandy are advised to note that the 2027 Route des Étalons takes place on Friday and Saturday, January 22nd and 23rd. Further information will be available later in the year on laroutedesetalons.com.

DANNY Gilligan has won his appeal against an eight-day suspension he received at Kilbeggan on August 21st for failing to give his mount enough time to respond to the whip. Gilligan told the appeals body he did not make contact initially as he was just waving his whip. The appeals body allowed the appeal as on the balance of probabilities they could not be satisfied that he had made contact on the first occasion.

EQUUIP will host a special online webinar on Thursday, September 10th at 6.30pm, focusing on mental health and the importance of recognising and responding to the pressures experienced by people working across the racing industry. Registration is now open in the news section of the equuip.ie website.